2020 National Security Conference: The America Competes Summer Series

The Center for a New American Security (CNAS) in partnership with Axios, presented the 14th Annual CNAS National Security Conference, The America Competes Summer Series. The series launched on June 17 as part of a broader campaign to renew American competitiveness at home and abroad across a range of vital national security arenas. The conference series included interactive online sessions with innovative audience participation and engagement. This year’s events featured CNAS’ expertise on sustaining U.S. military deterrence, securing U.S. technological advantages, advancing U.S. values while countering high-tech illiberalism, strengthening U.S. national security institutions, and bolstering U.S. economic power and leadership—all while showcasing next generation leaders and ideas. Each session convened policymakers, practitioners, and analysts, as well as peers from the private sector, media, and academia. The conference’s arc featured cross-cutting initiatives and projects from the Center’s seven research programs.

Explore this year's sessions:

A Deadly Game: East China Sea Crisis 2030

On July 22, 2020, audience members played along as the CNAS Defense team and leading experts conducted a virtual wargame in the year 2030, exploring command and information concepts in a New American Way of War.

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Is Seeing Still Believing? Synthetic Media and Illiberal Uses of Technology

At this exercise on June 15, 2020, CNAS challenged the audience to spot the difference between real and synthetic media (digital forgeries). How will artificial intelligence (AI) enable media manipulation and advance illiberal uses of technology?

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Closing the Deal: National Security and Investment Scrutiny

On July 15, 2020, the Center for a New American Security (CNAS) hosted a mock White House meeting to weigh the economic and security concerns around a hypothetical foreign investment in a U.S. artificial intelligence (AI) firm. The United States and other major economies are enhancing investment screening and export controls in areas sensitive to national security.

Disclaimer: All participants were role playing in this simulation, using hypothetical facts and circumstances.

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The Pitch: A Competition of New Ideas

On June 17, 2020, the Center for a New American Security (CNAS) hosted its premier event to elevate emerging and diverse voices in national security. Selected applicants made their pitch for innovative policy ideas to renew American competitiveness in front of a distinguished panel of judges and live virtual audience. Participants Alan McQuinn, Grace Kim, Khyle Eastin, and Luke Chen each won their respective heats, Tina Huang won the people's choice vote by audience members, and Grace Kim was this year's overall winner.

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Future Scenarios: America and the Post Pandemic World

On June 17, 2020, the Center for a New American Security (CNAS) launched the 2020 National Security Conference: The America Competes Summer Series. At this #CNAS2020 session, Richard Fontaine, Ely Ratner, Andrea Kendall-Taylor, Bethany Allen-Ebrahimian, and other experts explored the world after COVID-19.

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